One of New Zealand’s most recognisable pie brands will stop making pies this week after efforts to find a buyer failed.

Maketū Pies owner Montana Group announced on Monday that production will stop at its factory on November 13, ending more than 40 years of pie-making in the Bay of Plenty township.

The site will then be prepared for closure before the lease expires in December.

Montana Group chief executive Lizzi Pearson said the company had spent recent weeks in discussions with several interested parties but could not secure a deal.

“Obviously this is not the outcome we had hoped for.

“When it became clear that ongoing production at the Maketū factory was no longer sustainable, we put all our efforts into finding a pathway forward for the brand.”

It's the end of an era for Maketū Pies as production comes to an end. Photo / Laura Smith

Pearson said there was strong interest in acquiring Maketū Pies, but the short transition period and challenge of shifting production into existing facilities proved too difficult for potential buyers.

She said the decision was disappointing for the team and everyone connected to the brand.

Founded by a local family in 1982, Maketū Pies grew into a nationally recognised brand stocked in dairies, service stations and supermarkets across New Zealand.

The business entered receivership before being bought by Te Arawa Management Ltd in 2019. Continued losses led to a voluntary solvent liquidation in 2024.

Montana Group purchased the brand in December 2024 after a two-week liquidation process and launched a turnaround plan, including a major brand refresh aimed at rebuilding confidence in the business.

Pearson said the team had “given their all” to restoring Maketū Pies.

“I want to acknowledge the incredible effort and dedication that the team has put into returning the brand to its former glory.

“We are so proud of what we have collectively achieved in less than two years.”

The ageing Maketū factory remained a major constraint. Pearson said it would need a complete rebuild to support future growth.

Maketū Pies general manager Craig Williams. Photo / Annabel Reid

Maketū Pies general manager Craig Williams previously told the Rotorua Daily Post the company had been working to restore the brand’s reputation after years of declining quality and distribution.

Williams said since Montana took over, distribution expanded from fewer than 100 pie warmers to more than 600 nationwide, alongside placement in more than 200 supermarkets.

Production and revenue had nearly tripled, he said.

The closure puts 21 fulltime jobs at risk. Montana was working with Bay of Plenty businesses to help affected staff find new employment.